JAEGERS 
217 
Distribution. Breeds in the Arctic across the continent. More common in migration 
on the sea-board than in the interior, but may occur anywhere in Canada. This is the 
jaeger that is probably most likely to be met with in the Prairie Provinces and the com- 
monest in migration on either coast. 
Juveniles have often been recorded as the Long-tailed and consider- 
able caution should be used in identifying them. 
liliurc 315 
Tail of Long-tailed Jaeger; scale, about l. 
38. Long-tailed Jaeger, marline-spike, buffon’s skua, le labbe a longue 
queue. Stercorarius longicaudus. L, 21 (tail 13*25. Maximum projection of centre 
feathers 8). In coloration hardly distinguish- 
able from the two preceding jaegers. (See 
Pomarine .Jaeger for general description.) Only 
the light phase certainly known to occur. 
Distinctions. Decidedly smaller than the 
Pomarine, slightly smaller than the Parasitic. 
Length, disregarding greatly elongated tail 
feathers, 13 instead of 17*75 and 13 *75 of the 
two former. A jaeger with wing under 12 inches 
is probably this species. The very long tail 
feathers of the adult are narrow and attenuated 
instead of being broad and twisted as in the Pomarine, and project 8 inches beyond the rest 
of the tail instead of 3*25 as in the parasitic (Compare Figure 315 with 313 and 314). 
Imrnatures and birds with the centre tail feathers in moult are difficult to distinguish 
from the Parasitic. The best distinction seems to be in the colour of the shafts of the 
primary feathers. In this species the first two feather shafts (counting from the outside) 
are white, the remainder darken suddenly instead of gradually and progressively as on the 
parasitic. This distinction may not be infallible and occasional juvenile specimens may 
occur that are very difficult of determination. A seemingly reliable character based on 
the length of certain wingbones has lately been worked out for this species. A jaeger 
able to fly with an ulna (in “forearm” of wing) 3*8 inches or under should be a Long-tailed. 
Field Marks, For recognition as jaegers See Family Field Marks, page 215. The 
excessive projection of middle tail feathers and their being fine and attenuated instead of 
broad and twisted probably make the best specific field marks. 
Nesting. On the ground, on the moors and tundras of the north. 
Distribution. Breeds in the arctics of Europe, Asia, and America. Probably less 
common out of the far north than either of the other two. 
Many old records of this species have proved to be Parasitics and the 
species should be identified with care. 
35. Great Skua, le grand labbe. Catharaeta skua. L, 22. Larger and more 
robust than the jaegers, all dark brown with little variation. 
Distinctions. This is the skua of the Atlantic coast as the Chilean Skua is of the 
Pacific. Like a dark phased jaeger but without the elongated tail feathers and considerably 
larger and more robust, especially in the bill, which is about 2 inches long. 
Distribution. The north Atlantic. Accidental on the American coast but perhaps 
more regular on the Grand Banks and Davis Strait. A few records for Nova Scotia. 
35*1. Chilean Skua, le labbe du chili. Catharaeta chilensis. L, 20-22. A large, 
dark brown, jaeger-like bird with a rounded tail. With or without scattered lanceolate 
feathers of a dull golden hue down the back of the neck and upper shoulders. A conspicuous 
white bar at base of primaries (Figure 312). 
Distinctions. As above. 
Field Marks. Would probably be seen in life as a large, nearly black bird with round 
tail and conspicuous white spot at base of primaries. Disregarding the elongated tail 
feathers of the jaegers, the skua is considerably larger than any of them. 
Distribution. Both shores of South America, wandering north in the Pacific occasion- 
ally. Breeds in the Fuegian Archipelago. 
Nesting. Probably similar to the other members of the family. 
A skua taken off southern Vancouver Island in 1917 was originally 
identified as the Great Skua Catharaeta skua, but has recently been 
assigned to this species. This is the only record of this bird in Canada. 
The skuas are typically birds of the Antarctic where they occupy the same 
place in the natural economy as do our birds of prey. Too rare on our 
coast to be recorded except by specimens authoritatively identified. 
